Provided is a communication apparatus in which when reception data from a transmission apparatus contains a request for an acknowledgement response, a determination as to whether or not to send an acknowledgement response from the communication apparatus to the transmission apparatus is made, if the acknowledgement response is permitted, an acknowledgement is sent to the transmission apparatus over a network, and when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, reception data containing the acknowledgement response is transferred to the external apparatus.
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1. A communication apparatus comprising: a first communication interface that communicates with a transmission source apparatus over a network; a second communication interface that communicates with an external apparatus; a memory that stores destination information of the transmission source apparatus; and a processor including a determination unit that determines whether or not to send an acknowledgement response from the communication apparatus to the transmission source apparatus, based on the destination information, when reception data contains a request for the acknowledgement response, and a response control unit, in which when the acknowledgement response is permitted, the response control unit sends an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication interface, and when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, the response control unit transfers the reception data to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user.
A communication device selectively acknowledges data received from a sender. It has two network interfaces: one for communicating with the sender and another for communicating with an external device (like a computer). When the device receives data from the sender that requests an acknowledgement, the device consults stored information about the sender to decide whether to automatically send the acknowledgement. If allowed, the device sends the acknowledgement immediately. If not, the device forwards the received data to the external device. The external device displays the data to a user. The external device is responsible for sending the acknowledgement back to the original sender, but only after the user has confirmed the received data.
2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the external apparatus is configured to send the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus.
The communication device described previously, where when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, reception data is transferred to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user, relies on the external device to send the acknowledgement back to the original sender. Essentially, the external device handles the actual transmission of the acknowledgement.
3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein when a reply based on an output of the reception data by the external apparatus is received through the second communication interface, the response control unit sends an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication interface.
The communication device described previously, where when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, reception data is transferred to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user, monitors for a reply from the external device after the data is presented to the user. If the communication device receives a reply from the external device through the second communication interface (communication with an external apparatus), it then sends the acknowledgement to the original sender using the first communication interface (communication with a transmission source apparatus). The reply acts as confirmation from the external device (and implicitly the user).
4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein destinations, for which an acknowledgement response is permitted or is not permitted, are stored in the destination information.
The communication device described previously, where when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, reception data is transferred to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user, stores information about which senders require manual acknowledgement (via the external device) and which senders can receive automatic acknowledgements. The stored destination information contains a mapping of destinations to whether automatic acknowledgement is allowed or disallowed.
5. The communication apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the destination information contains a communication history performed through the first communication interface.
The communication device described previously, where when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, reception data is transferred to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user, uses the history of past communication with senders to determine whether to automatically acknowledge them or require manual acknowledgement. The stored destination information tracks the communication history of interactions handled via the first communication interface (communication with a transmission source apparatus).
6. A communication apparatus comprising: a first communication interface that communicates with a transmission source apparatus over a network; a second communication interface that communicates with an external apparatus; a memory that stores destination information of the transmission source apparatus; and a processor including a determination unit that determines whether or not to send an acknowledgement response from the communication apparatus to the transmission source apparatus, based on the destination information, when reception data contains a request for the acknowledgement response, and a response control unit, in which when the acknowledgement response is permitted, the response control unit sends an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication interface, and when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, the response control unit transfers the reception data to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface, wherein when a reply based on an output of the reception data by the external apparatus is received through the second communication interface, the response control unit sends an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication interface, and the processor includes a destination information updating unit that updates the destination information, in response to the reply from the external apparatus.
A communication device selectively acknowledges data received from a sender. It has two network interfaces: one for communicating with the sender and another for communicating with an external device (like a computer). When the device receives data from the sender that requests an acknowledgement, the device consults stored information about the sender to decide whether to automatically send the acknowledgement. If allowed, the device sends the acknowledgement immediately. If not, the device forwards the received data to the external device. Also, if the communication device receives a reply from the external device after the data is presented to the user, it then sends the acknowledgement to the original sender. Furthermore, the device also updates its stored information about the sender based on this reply from the external device (after the data is presented to the user).
7. A communication method comprising: determining whether or not to send an acknowledgement response using a first communication unit to a transmission source apparatus, based on destination information stored in a storage unit, when a request for acknowledgement from a transmission source apparatus is contained in reception data received through the first communication unit connected to a network; and sending an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication unit, when the acknowledgement response is permitted in the determination, and transferring the reception data to an external apparatus by using a second communication unit so that the external apparatus outputs the transferred reception data to a user and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user, when the acknowledgement response is not permitted in the determination.
A communication method involves selectively sending acknowledgement responses. When data containing an acknowledgement request is received from a sender, the method checks stored destination information to decide whether to allow an automatic acknowledgement. If allowed, an acknowledgement is sent directly back to the sender. If not, the data is forwarded to an external device. The external device presents the data to a user and is responsible for sending the acknowledgement back to the sender only after the user has confirmed the data. One communication unit is connected to a network, and another communication unit is connected to an external apparatus.
8. A communication system comprising a communication apparatus, and an external apparatus capable of outputting reception data, wherein the communication apparatus includes a first communication interface that communicates with a transmission source apparatus over a network, a second communication interface that communicates with an external apparatus, a memory that stores destination information of the transmission source apparatus, and a processor including a determination unit that determines whether or not to send an acknowledgement response from the communication apparatus to the transmission source apparatus, based on the destination information, when reception data contains a request for the acknowledgement response, and a response control unit, in which when the acknowledgement response is permitted, the response control unit sends an acknowledgement to the transmission source apparatus by using the first communication interface, and when the acknowledgement response is not permitted, the response control unit transfers the reception data to the external apparatus by using the second communication interface and wherein the external apparatus includes a processor including a confirmation control unit that outputs the transferred reception data, and sends the acknowledgement response to the transmission source apparatus by using a third communication interface, in response to confirmation of the output reception data by the user.
A communication system involves two devices: a primary communication device and an external device that can display data. The communication device selectively acknowledges data received from a sender. It has two network interfaces: one for communicating with the sender and another for communicating with the external device. When the device receives data from the sender that requests an acknowledgement, the device consults stored information about the sender to decide whether to automatically send the acknowledgement. If allowed, the device sends the acknowledgement immediately. If not, the device forwards the received data to the external device. The external device displays the data to a user and sends an acknowledgement back to the original sender only after the user has confirmed the data. The external device has a confirmation control unit.
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January 27, 2016
July 18, 2017
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